newstodate.aero
Sep 09, 2011 (newstodate): The future belongs to jet aircraft, and while our turboprop fleet has performed nicely this year we will exit this niche, says Avion Express, based in Lithuania.
-In April 2011, Avion Aviation Capital acquired the first Airbus A320 placed on Lithuanian registry and operated by Avion Express on a Lithuanian AOC. This aircraft, based at Milan, has been operating for Italian tour operators, and it has proved a distinct success, says Gardar Forberg, Avion Express.
-In between the operations comprised by the contract, we had the opportunity to offer the aircraft on ad-hoc or short-term assignments, and this early proved that there is a significant market for this aircraft.
-So having built up our first experience with the A320 operation and gained a standing in the market, we are now determined to go further along this road, adding more Airbus aircraft to our fleet.
-I would expect Avion Express to operate three, or at the most four Airbus A320 aircraft in 2012, with a mix of leased aircraft and aircraft directly owned by Avion Aviation Capital and leased to us. These aircraft might be stationed anywhere in Europe where contracts may take us.
-Consequently, we have decided that our three SAAB 340 freighters will be phased out in due time, and our future is with narrow-body jet aircraft, and maybe also with wide-body jet aircraft further down the line, says Mr Forberg.
In 2010 Avion Express was acquired by the French investment company Eyjafjoll SAS, formed by Avion Capital Partners of Switzerland along with strategic industry investors.
-In April 2011, Avion Aviation Capital acquired the first Airbus A320 placed on Lithuanian registry and operated by Avion Express on a Lithuanian AOC. This aircraft, based at Milan, has been operating for Italian tour operators, and it has proved a distinct success, says Gardar Forberg, Avion Express.
-In between the operations comprised by the contract, we had the opportunity to offer the aircraft on ad-hoc or short-term assignments, and this early proved that there is a significant market for this aircraft.
-So having built up our first experience with the A320 operation and gained a standing in the market, we are now determined to go further along this road, adding more Airbus aircraft to our fleet.
-I would expect Avion Express to operate three, or at the most four Airbus A320 aircraft in 2012, with a mix of leased aircraft and aircraft directly owned by Avion Aviation Capital and leased to us. These aircraft might be stationed anywhere in Europe where contracts may take us.
-Consequently, we have decided that our three SAAB 340 freighters will be phased out in due time, and our future is with narrow-body jet aircraft, and maybe also with wide-body jet aircraft further down the line, says Mr Forberg.
In 2010 Avion Express was acquired by the French investment company Eyjafjoll SAS, formed by Avion Capital Partners of Switzerland along with strategic industry investors.